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Which professional video camera is better?

Tape or DVD video camera Which is better?

  • I want a video camera. Tape is cheaper but dvd is more modern, which is better?Pros and cons of both please. I can't really afford much though. I want a fairly professional one but not too difficult. Can someone who has a video camera tell me what the pros and cons of their model/type are.

  • Answer:

    DVD is easier to use, but the quality isn't as good as tape. Digital 8 is generally cheaper than mini-dv but the quality is better with mini-dv. It's not THAT hard to learn to capture, edit, and write digital files. You need a firewire card. If you don't have one, they are very cheap on ebay. You need capture, editing and writing software. Nero 6 does all 3. Also very cheap on ebay. Mini-dvd camcorders are the easiest to use because they write to the dvd which you can then watch in your set top dvd player on your tv set. But they have the worst quality of all the formats. Panasonic sells a 3CCD mini-dv camcorder for under $400 that I think is one of the best buys out there. Other brands cost twice that much for 3CCDs. The 3CCD gives you better colors because each chip (CCD) is devoted to a color (red, green, blue, RGB). For a bit more they have one with a jack for an external microphone. The problem Marx talks about with your camcorder dying and having no way to see what you've filmed would not be a large problem. There are many companies that will make dvds from your mini-dv cassette for a small fee.

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DVD video camera is much better. Really who uses Vhs any more. DVD video camera you dont need to buy vhs tape. you cant do alot with video camera tech ways that you can't do with vhs.

♥Starchaser♥

i have a video camera it is cumbersome and heavy, a bit of apin having to put onto video - i bought a mini dv camera its great - got it cheap on ebay, sound isnt too good but we;ve had loads of fun using it for holidays and you tube etc., its easy to use and easy to remove your recordings from the camera itself from the memory card through card reader etc., or usb cable - then we decided to go even better by buying a sony digital cam corder now this was a lot more expensive again an ebay buy - lovely piece of equipment and great filming but its difficult to get from camera onto computer as yet i havent been able to get any sound from camera to computer - so its entirely up to you really - i think if i had the money i would go out and buy an actual dvd camera - so you can remove the dvd and just play and edit it on your computer or dvd recorder etc., but i think they are expensive - hope this helps.

tkf57

Depends on which kind of tape. VHS and 8mm are dead. Being analog, they don't transfer without losing quality each and every time. Mini DV is a digital tape and it only requires a firewire (maybe USB, too, these days) to directly transfer it to your computer for editing. And you don't lose quality in the transfer. Mini DV is considered pro-sumer, which is almost professional grade, but very high end consumer grade. I've done professional video production with mini DV and found it to be a good choice. Here is the only drawback that YOU will find with mini DV. Once you've recorded on a DVD, you can finalize it and play it anywhere else. But mini DV players are expensive, so if your camera ever dies, then you have no way of playing, or transferring, your existing tapes.

Marc X

DVD

Palestinian

If its for stuff like home video use a dvd camcorder. If you are wanting to edit it on your computer and stuff like that mini dv tapes are best.

joshme17

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